Chapter 87, Some Men

Chapter 87, Some Men

The wind rushed past her face with newfound vigour, bringing her past the Space Circle and the police station she tried to bring Kreig to when they first met. Smiling to herself, Erica gently recalled the first impression shed had all those weeks back. Crime man, sure. Now that Erica thought about it, of all the people shed ever known, Kreig might just be the least disposed to crime. Or even violence, for that matter.

If having to learn to ride a bike at his age didnt make him resort to violence, she was pretty sure he never would. On the matter of his bike, it really was a cool thing. Pigsty. A bike that could carry a whole pigstys worth of swine.

Not that Kreig was a pig or anything, no, he was more of an ox. Or a stallion. Or a human male.

Very large and very, very dashing.

Flying through the city on her own bike, Erica felt her cheeks heat up just a little. Then, she passed the bend they had decided on, and there he stood. His pale eyes fell on her. She smiled and waved from her bike, trying not to fall over.

Good morning! Erica said to her former student, now coworker.

Good morning, he replied in that always-solemn, constantly-stoic way. Maybe she should tell him to smile somehow? No, hed smile when he pleased. Otherwise it wouldnt be a real smile.

They both got back on their bikes, Erica letting her eyes linger on Kreigs bike for just a second. Hm. She hadnt noticed it before, but it seemed almost like the handlebars came with moulded handles! Shaped just like Kreigs own hands. Maybe they were custom bought? Maybe his Russian mafia boss leader bought them for him? Cool.

As they biked along the path leading out to the edges of the city, she couldnt help but notice Kreig glancing at her every now and then. But whenever she tried to catch his gaze, hed always returned it to the path in front of them.

Maybe he had something to say? Kreig could be pretty shy when it came to initiating conversation, so if she just said something mildly conversational, then-,

Do you feel nervous?

Huh? Erica whipped her head to the side to face Kreig, only barely getting control over her bike. How do you mean?

He looked down at his handlebars, not even looking ahead as he deftly dodged a pedestrian. When I first began teaching at Painstone, I can admit I felt rather nervous myself. Uncertain. I havent had a formal position in many years. I was afraid that the students might dislike me, or that I may not be up to par with the expectations of my employer. He lifted his gaze once more, meeting hers. I can only assume that you may be feeling something similar, if not more severely.

Huh? Me? Nervous? No way! Id never-,

To the right, Kreig said softly, prompting Erica to glance back to the road that now took a pretty sharp turn.

Once the road straightened out again, she tried again to collect her thoughts, only to find them jumbled. I mean Ive been teaching for years, Kreig. Why should I be nervous? Realization hit her. Unless sewer snakes put chemicals in my water Or Im scared that the students will be just the same as they were all those years ago and nothing has changed Or Ive been brain-washed by ultra-intelligent cutlery trying to get me to become their queen!

Kreig stared at her for a few seconds. -It could be either one.

She nodded back. Could be either one. I cant be sure. She could feel her brows pinching together. No, it couldnt be either one. Sure, one or two were likelier than another, but But if she looked deep inside herself and really thought about it, there was only really one option. I wont become their queen, she whispered to herself. I wont.

Oh, and now Kreig was looking at her oddly again.

Ill protect you, he said, only barely loud enough for her to hear.

Erica glanced back at him, trying to still her beating heart. -From the cutlery?

He smiled; one of those genuine, slight smiles that you could tell he truly felt. Sure. If they ever try anything, or if they make you feel bad, or if they make you think you are incapable of living up to their expectations, I swear to you that I will protect you.

-From the cutlery?

His smile grew wider. You will have nothing to fear from them but their insubordination.

Erica grinned and did a thumbs up. Well, if you say so!

But for how excited she might have seemed externally, internally, she was even more so. Though it did take a slightly different form. She felt giddy and thrilled, filled up from the bottom of her toes to the tip of her head with an exhilarating joy. Hed protect her. Sure, sure, but, more than that, he cared for her. Whatever he was, whatever his background, whatever his present, he cared for her. Maybe even as much as she cared for him.

For the next fifteen minutes, she rode on a high, feeling as though she was biking on clouds.

Then Painstone reared on the horizon and all of a sudden all those bad feelings hit her again.

Annie, according to what Jay could tell, was someone who enjoyed the creation of stories pretty sharply. When people started writing lots of stories about the portals and Fighters, Jay could remember Annie reading quite a few of them, as though she was preparing to write some biography following them or whatever.

As Annie got to work writing, Jay reluctantly brought out her own computer. The empty google docs document gaped before her.

Even after ten minutes, she hadnt been able to write a single good line. A lot of possible beginnings, but nothing concrete. Nothing worth actually pursuing.

But just as she was about to close the document to write something harsh on reddit, she heard the faint tick-tock of the womans heels step up behind her. Then she passed by to lean behind Annie. Whoa, interesting! she said in what appeared to be genuine excitement. You wrote this? You didnt steal it off a dead mans corpse? Whoa

Then, the two of them began trading banter, with the woman telling Annie many tips and tricks, alongside hinting at possible endings and turnarounds. Well, less so hinting and more so that she just suggested them straight out. Either way, Annie seemed very excited to continue, so the woman soon left her, quickly turning her attention to Jay and her empty paper.

Having trouble getting started? she asked in the most sickly sweet voice Jay had ever heard.

What do you care? she sneered. No, seriously. You dont actually care, do you? Look, if you just leave me alone Ill turn in some pretentious dadaistic poem by the end of this class and we dont talk again all semester, okay?

The woman seemed completely taken aback, freezing in a second. Jay grinned to herself, feeling a sense of victory over the tawny woman.

But then, as though pulling herself together and drawing some strength from deep within, the woman let her eyes rise again. They were as hard as diamonds. What is your dream, Jay?

Jay drew her arms across her chest. Something here was off. But for now, she didnt have enough ammunition to do anything thatd really get her off her ass. I want to be a journalist, she answered honestly.

The woman - Erica, made no sign of backing down. Why do you want to be a journalist?

That was a pretty private question, miss Wiedermann. I dont see how thats important.

Then, the woman smiled softly. I became a teacher because I wanted to make sure kids had at least one good teacher growing up. Bad teachers can do a lot of bad, but To a kid, a really good teacher can mean everything.

I wouldnt know, Jay said dismissively. A lull in the conversation made the silence stretch between them. Jay looked back at her screen. ...I just want to expose the truth.

The truth?

Yeah. Theres plenty of secrets in the world. Lots of people with secrets whod do anything to keep them hidden. I hate that. I want to drag them out into the light, to expose their evil to the justice of public opinion. I want-, Jay paused, realizing what the teacher did. Her head whipped around furiously, fully expecting the woman to look at her with those dead, uncaring eyes that all teachers have whenever she tries to tell them anything about herself.

Instead, she found a pair of shining, curious eyes looking back at her. You want? The woman asked innocently, like a kid asking their parent to continue the bedtime story.

I-, I want in her head, the answer echoed dully. It isnt important. It isnt.

The woman smiled sympathetically. Its okay. You can tell me when you feel more comfortable, alright? Her words made Jay nod mechanically. But, since youre much more interested in journalism, how about you just write an article instead?

An article? Jay echoed quietly.

Yeah! I mean, as long as it shows your abilities, Im really fine with whatever. You promise youll put your all into it, right? The woman smiled mischievously and winked.

Uh, sure, Jay answered dully. Then, after giving a little wave and a wish of good luck, the woman left to go fawn on another student, leaving Jay confused and uncertain. She turned back to the empty document.

Do whatever you want, huh? Plenty of teachers had told her that in the past when she didnt want to do the normal assignment. But then, just as she turned it in, there was always that one moment of realization where their eyes turned black as coal and they looked like they regretted ever becoming a teacher. And then they would tell her that this wasnt exactly what they meant and they let her only barely pass. That was how it was. That was the game.

Jay frowned to herself. Yeah. This time it would surely be the same.

What is your dream?

Surely

Jay shook her head. She placed her fingers on the keyboard. Though, maybe this time, she could do something a little more lasting. Something that was sure to hurt.

On the document, she wrote, Some men arent quite what they seem to be.